The destruction of non-food items will be banned within two to four years in France, announced Tuesday, June 4 Prime Minister Philippe.

"It will be a world first," he said. This measure aims at imposing to give these products or to recycle them, from the end of 2021 or the end of 2023 as the case may be, in addition to the measures already adopted in recent years against food waste.

"A scandalous waste"

Today, more than 650 million euros of new and unsold non-food products are discarded or destroyed each year, five times more than donations of these same products, according to Matignon. For example, clothing, household appliances, hygiene or beauty products, etc. are concerned.

"It is a waste that shock the understanding (...) a scandalous waste," said Édouard Philippe, who came to announce the measure in a CDiscount store in the 11th arrondissement of Paris.

The measure, "which will consist in the prohibition of the disposal of unsold, new or in general", will figure in the bill on the circular economy prepared by the Secretary of State Brune Poirson, which must arrive in Council of ministers in July, he said.

This proposal comes at a time when the executive wants to convince of its action in the field of ecology and meet the environmental expectations of the French, illustrated by a push of the ecologist vote in recent European.

No derogation for luxury products

The destruction of products is widespread among both large retailers and luxury brands who see it as a way to protect intellectual property and prevent counterfeiting.

According to Matignon, the fact of not forcing signs to give products, but to leave the door open for recycling, reassures certain sectors, such as luxury, worried about the emergence of a parallel market with products sold off.

"Sectors that could see a risk of deterioration of their brand image if they donate their products, will always be able to transform their products if they do not wish to give them," it was pointed out.

Some products that are no longer usable after a certain date may be subject to exceptions.

With AFP